Wedding Flat Lay Photos | Washington, DC Wedding Photographer | Wedding Planning Tips

Photographing a wedding day is about capturing moments; your walk down the aisle, a quick kiss at your sweetheart table. However, there’s another layer to the day that lives in the items you have specially curated for your wedding. Starting with the day you pick out your Save The Dates, you have shared your love story with your guests through these items, and you’ll want to hold onto those items forever. Unfortunately, those items don’t always last forever – your invitation suite may fade over time, the flowers won’t last more than a day or two, and special items can get lost or damaged. That’s why I always make time to photograph these details during your wedding day because they are so meaningful and will continue to be so years down the road.

If you want to make sure that your wedding photographer gets the best detail photographs possible, I highly recommend preparing these six items ahead of time.

1. A Nice Hanger

Everyone wants a beautiful shot of their wedding dress or suit, but nothing can ruin those photos quite like a cheap plastic hanger. I highly recommend upgrading to a nice, classic wooden hanger, or even splurging on a vintage or custom hanger! If you really want to go all out, consider buying nice hangers for your wedding party as well, so we can grab detail shots of their suits and dresses too! 

2. Two Copies of your Stationery

Including two copies of your full invitation suite allows your photographer to capture the front and back in the same photo, and generally gives them more room to be creative! If you used any special external details like special stamps, a wax seal, or had your envelopes addressed in calligraphy definitely include those! Don’t forget the extra paper goods as well, like your RSVP card, accommodations/details cards, paper programs, and menus! 

3. Flowers enhance your wedding details

When scheduling your floral delivery on your wedding day, keep in mind that florals are a huge part of detail photos! If possible, have your florist include “extra clippings” from your arrangements and have the flowers delivered during your hair and makeup sessions. This will allow your photographer plenty of time to get the perfect photos, and including loose stems in a flat lay is a great way to tie all your pieces together!

4. Jewelry, Including Your Rings

Don’t hand off your wedding rings to your trusted bridal party member just yet! On the morning of your wedding, have all of your jewelry including your rings ready for your photographer while you’re getting ready. The rings are an incredibly important symbol of your union, so you’ll want lots of photos of them! And don’t worry about purchasing a special ring box (unless you want one to keep!) – most wedding photographers will have a few options in their kit. 

5. Perfume and Cologne

Photos might not be able to capture the smell of your wedding day, but we can at least try! If you have a special bottle of perfume or cologne that you plan to wear on your big day, set it aside with the other detail pieces for your photographer. The gorgeous bottles are a lovely addition to your detail photos, and a photo of the label will make sure you’re never wondering what you wore on your big day. 

6. Anything other wedding details that are special to you

Whether it’s a family heirloom, or your “something blue”, it’s up to you to tell your photographer what items are the most meaningful to you and your partner! Don’t be afraid to bring something you’ve never seen in a detail photo before – these photos are for you to keep forever, and we want to make sure that we capture the items that are most important to you! 

On the morning of your wedding, gathering a box of sentimental items is likely to be the last thing on your mind, so prepping in advance will make sure that everything goes smooth for you and your photographer! Put someone in your wedding party in charge of your box of detail items, and make sure your photographer has some time to capture the items before portraits or the ceremony. 

Are you getting married in the DC metro area? I’d love to chat about being your wedding photographer! Inquire today!

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